Veterans retreat was a huge success

Published: Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 02:12 PM.

I’ve been able to do some fun things as a reporter. But the most fulfilling — and filling — thing I’ve done so far is judge the steak grilling contest at the annual veterans retreat Saturday.

The event, which has entered its 11th year, began as a way of letting returning Marines unwind after deployments. This year, for the first time, the event was held at the beautiful and spacious Equine Country on
Richlands Highway
.

My wife and youngest son had a cold. My daughter was at the county fair with friends and my oldest son was glued to his computer. So I took my middle two boys and headed for the event, mainly for the free food.

There was much, much more to do. My sons played for hours on inflated jumpers, took a ride in the sheriff’s office Humvee and had a hayride tour of gorgeous pastures and nearly 50 horses.

Thanks to Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly, there were plenty of hotdogs, drinks and snack cakes.

And the highlight for me, I was chosen to be a judge in the steak grilling competition.

I’ve been able to do some fun things as a reporter. But the most fulfilling — and filling — thing I’ve done so far is judge the steak grilling contest at the annual veterans retreat Saturday.

The event, which has entered its 11th year, began as a way of letting returning Marines unwind after deployments. This year, for the first time, the event was held at the beautiful and spacious Equine Country on Richlands Highway.

My wife and youngest son had a cold. My daughter was at the county fair with friends and my oldest son was glued to his computer. So I took my middle two boys and headed for the event, mainly for the free food.

There was much, much more to do. My sons played for hours on inflated jumpers, took a ride in the sheriff’s office Humvee and had a hayride tour of gorgeous pastures and nearly 50 horses.

Thanks to Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly, there were plenty of hotdogs, drinks and snack cakes.

And the highlight for me, I was chosen to be a judge in the steak grilling competition.

The day was fun and a much needed break from the usual hustle and bustle.

Something I don’t get to see everyday, I watched a local cowboy breaking in a bronco. A young man leaned on the fence next to me to enjoy the show. He said he had just returned from Afghanistan — his fourth deployment in 10 years.

As our kids played together on the jumpers, the young man told me he needed a day like this to relax and enjoy with his kids.

“We’re going to be OK,” he said, looking around at everyone.

I’m not sure whether he meant his family, our community, the Corps or our country. I’d like to believe he meant all of them.

The Lancers, and especially John Michael Moore, should be commended for putting on such a great event. Moore expressed concern because he didn’t have the turnout he expected.

When it comes to events like these, it’s not about how many people show up; it’s about how much the people who do get out of it. On those terms, I’d call the veterans retreat an unmitigated success.

And the steak was great too. I should know, I tried several samples to be sure.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.